In a small laboratory in Germany, sometime around the year 1897, a chemist named Felix Hoffmann was hunched over his workbench.
He was determined to find a solution for his father’s unbearable rheumatic pain.
That pain, which increasingly limited his father, had to be relieved.
Felix worked for Bayer and was experimenting with a substance that had been known for centuries: salicylic acid, derived from willow bark.
It was effective against pain but had a major drawback—it irritated the stomach.
He tried to improve its chemical structure and succeeded in creating a new compound: acetylsalicylic acid.
When he gave it to his father, something miraculous happened.
The pain subsided without the usual stomach complaints.This was a breakthrough!
Bayer saw the potential and began mass-producing it under the name Aspirin, a combination of A (for acetyl), Spir (from Spiraea ulmaria, a plant containing salicylates), and ine (a common suffix in medicines).
Aspirin quickly became one of the most widely used medicines in the world.
It not only helped with headaches and fever, but later scientists discovered that it could even help prevent heart attacks.
Felix Hoffmann may not have foreseen that his search for relief for his father would grow into one of the most significant medical discoveries ever.
But thanks to his work, billions of people worldwide have benefited from that little white pill
1:Pain, Fever, or Inflammation
Typical dose:
Adults: 300–650 mg every 4 to 6 hours
Max dose: 4 grams (4000 mg) per day
Children: Not recommended (risk of Reye’s syndrome)
Tip: Take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
2. Heart Attack or Stroke Prevention
Low-dose aspirin ("baby aspirin")
Typical dose: 75–100 mg per day (commonly 81 mg)
For people with high heart disease risk or after a heart attack/stroke
Must be prescribed by a doctor
Warning: Aspirin thins the blood. Do not start daily aspirin therapy without medical approval.
3. After a Heart Attack or Stroke
Initial emergency dose:
160–325 mg (chewed for faster absorption)
Then 81–325 mg daily under doctor’s guidance
4. Rheumatoid Arthritis or Osteoarthritis
Anti-inflammatory dose:
Up to 3–4 grams per day, divided into smaller doses
Requires medical supervision due to high risk of stomach ulcers
5. Blood Clot Prevention (Deep Vein Thrombosis, Post-Surgery)
Typical dose:
75–100 mg per day, based on medical advice
Who Should Avoid Aspirin?
Do NOT take aspirin if you:
Have stomach ulcers or bleeding disorders Do NOT take aspirin
Have a history of stroke due to bleeding Do NOT take aspirin
Are allergic to aspirin or NSAIDs Do NOT take aspirin
Are under 16 years old (risk of Reye’s syndrome) Do NOT take aspirin
Are pregnant (especially in the third trimester) Do NOT take aspirin